Nakuru gets Sh5.6bn for water and sewerage system upgrade

The German Development Bank (KfW) has provided Sh5.6 billion in funding for the expansion of the water and sewerage system in Nakuru City.

The grant will finance a project dubbed the “Lake Nakuru Biodiversity Conservation Project” that will involve the upgrade of Nakuru City’s dilapidated sewerage system and wastewater treatment, as well as the increase of the water supply network.

The project will also involve cleaning of water flowing to Lake Nakuru.

The five-year project will be implemented by the Central Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency jointly with the Nakuru City County Government.

“The project will mainly focus on improving the conditions of the water supply, sewerage system and wastewater treatment in Nakuru City. This will include the increasing of water supply through new boreholes, rehabilitation of water supply networks and revitalisation of pipelines, optimisation of existing well fields, and construction of new water reservoirs,” Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika said.

“The sewer network will also be expanded and rehabilitated to handle more wastewater flow to the Njoro treatment plant which will be upgraded,” the governor added.

The project is set to take off soon. The expansion of the sewerage system will come as a relief to residents who have for years grappled with a ramshackle sewerage system, already reeling under the pressure occasioned by population growth.

“The upgrade of the sewerage systems is set to reduce the impact of overloading that leads to leakages. Nakuru is now a city and sanitation has to be given top priority, in terms of having clean water and a proper sewerage system,” Ms Kihika said.

The more than three decades old sewerage system, which only covers about 30 percent of the Rift Valley capital, has been reeling under the pressure occasioned by population growth.

The population in Nakuru City stood at 367,183 according to the 2019 census.

Under the project, the devolved will revamp the sewer system, to increase its coverage in Nakuru East, Nakuru West, and other areas that will be incorporated into Nakuru City and reduce the impact of overloading that leads to leakages.

Governor Kihika also revealed that the devolved will partner with more development partners to build and upgrade the sewer systems in other urban centres including in Molo and Gilgil which recently acquired municipality status.

“Improving sanitation will reduce the cost of treatment of waterborne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and diarrhea. We intend to work closely with the national government and other development partners to achieve the set goals and provide the best sanitation services in Kenya, “said Governor Kihika.